State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby is bringing criminal charges against all 6 officers, including one charge of "Depraved Heart Murder" against one officer, Caesar Goodson. The other officers charged with a variety of criminal offenses are: Lt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Alicia White, Ofc. William Porter, Offc. Garrett Miller, Ofc. Edward Nero. Charges include assault, misconduct in office, false imprisonment, and others.
Mosby took a lot of heat when she was elected Baltimore City State's Attorney, because of her youth and relative inexperience. There was a lot of carping in legal circles. Well, she certainly gave a straightforward, no-nonsense, kick-ass press conference. She also emphasized that this is an on-going investigation, and that she expects everyone to cool it (my words, not hers) and not engage in any nonsense, that the procedure requires peace and time and peace. And did I mention peace? No violence.
WBAL-TV reporter Jayne Miller, who has done such a great job (she's a very experienced reporter) during this whole time, stressed "an enormous development in this case," the fact that the arrest of Freddie Gray was illegal from the get-go. There was no probable cause to arrest Freddie Gray.
The police did not see a "switchblade" or a knife of any kind on Freddie Gray. Just before they dumped him in the van, handcuffed and shackled, they searched him, and found in his pocket a fold-up knife. Such as many people carry, including my husband, including people reading these words, including all the people foaming at the mouth at news sites and blogs all over the place, including otherwise "law and order" types who believe the police are always right yet who nevertheless cuddle their guns.
Jayne Miller said: "That’s not going to get as much attention today as it deserves," the fact that the arrest was illegal and that Baltimore citizens have been complaining about precisely this for years, that they're picked up for no cause.
Read the full article in the Baltimore Sun.
